Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ, founded in 1899, is West Seattle’s oldest church. On Sunday, November 19 at 3:00 pm, Admiral’s newly-renovated pipe organ will be dedicated in an impressive concert. The featured guest performer is internationally-renowned Dan Miller: organist, composer, conductor and recording artist. Mr. Miller will play works by Bach, Widor, Copland and Rowley and will share with his audience some of his own compositions as well. There will also be performances by Admiral Church’s own organist Sam Peters, presenting an original composition, and by the Admiral Choir under the direction of Pam Gerke. The audience will be invited to join in singing several hymns, finishing with the “Hallelujah Chorus”. All are welcome at this free concert, which will be a major West Seattle musical event.

Admiral Church’s pipe organ was installed in 1963, for the impressive sum of $12,000, quite a stretch for a small church back then. As the organ’s 50th birthday approached, the church recognized that, after 50 years of continuous use, significant renovation was needed. Spear-headed by then music director and organist Keith Terhune, a grassroots fundraising campaign raised $92,000 over 3 years, largely from members of the congregation eager to see their beloved organ made “young” again. After considerable research, it was decided to purchase a new Rodgers electronic organ console, carefully restore the original Balcom and Vaughan pipes and combine (“hybridize”) them. The result is a stunning musical instrument, one of the finest examples of its kind in the Greater Seattle area. In Admiral Church’s soaring sanctuary, designed by an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, the new Admiral organ is indeed thrilling both to see and to hear. This dedication will be a moving culmination of years of loving work for the congregation of Admiral Church.